Tibetan Artist Sets Himself on Fire in Tibet

Dorjee Lhundup, 25, in a protest against China’s policy in Tibet, self-immolated and died at the scene of the protest on Sunday, around 10:30 AM local time in Rebkong County, Malho (Chinese: Huangnan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province.

VOA sources say local Tibetans wrapped his body in traditional Tibetan scarves and carried his body to the Dolma Square of Rongwo Monastery where a large number of Tibetans including monks and nuns gathered to offer their prayers. Dorjee's body was cremated around 3 PM local time at a cremation site normally reserved for high lamas. Sources say Dorjee Lhundup called for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet and freedom for Tibet.

Citing sources in the area, Dorjee Wangchuk said Dorjee Lhundup’s father Drugthar Gyal appealed to the gathered people to be calm and not to create disturbances, “My son died for all human beings and has achieved his goal. Therefore, there is no need for me to mourn or worry about his death.”

Dorjee Lhundup, an artist, is survived by his wife Yangmo Tso, 26 and two children: daughter Tenzin Dolma, 4, and son Kunsang Dorjee 2. His father ‘s name is Drugthar Gyal, 50, and his mother’s name is Shawo Yangmo, 44.

Jamyang Palden, 34, a monk from Rebkong Monastery, set himself on fire on March 14, 2012 and followed by Sonam Dhargyal, 44, on March 17, 2012 in Rebkong. Dorjee Lhundup is the third person to self-immolate in Amdo Rebkong. Since February 2009, 63 Tibetans have self-immolated, protesting China’s repressive policy in Tibet.

Last Friday the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called on China to “promptly address the longstanding grievances that have led to an alarming escalation in desperate forms of protest, including self-immolations, in Tibetan areas.”

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharmsala, India, expressed its deep sadness today about the latest self-immolation and called on the Chinese government to heed the urgent calls from the United Nations Human Rights Council to find a lasting solution to the Tibetan problem.